Projectile.



c. F. SULLIVAN, DECD.

V. A- SULLIVAN. ADMINISTRATRIX.

PROJECTILE.

APPLICATION FILED MN. 14. I915.

Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

pil

a H 4 5 Ha ,7 2 2 m UNITED STATES PA TENT OFFICE:

CHARLES E. SULLIVAN, OF DES MOINES, IOWA; VIRGINIA A. SULLIVAN ADMINISTRA- TRIX OF SAID CHARLES F. SULLIVAN, DECEASED.

Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. SULLIVAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Projectiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in projectiles and one of the objects of the same is to provide an improved projectile having means, such as an arm or arms or a cutter element or elements movable therewith and adapted to be projected therefrom, to extend in a direction or directions transverse to the line of flight of the projectile, whereby any obstruction or entanglement in the path of the projectile will be penetrated or destroyed.

A further object is to provide an improved projectile of this character having means operating to automatically position or extend the arms or cutting elements with respect to the casing of the projectile, at any predetermined distance from such obstruction or entanglement, or at a predetermined time in the flight of the projectile.

A further object of the invention being the provision of means for initially maintaining the arms or cutting elements retracted or in an inactive position with respect to the casing.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention and in which,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an improved projectile of this character,

constructed in accordance with the, principles of this invention and showing the arms or cutting elements retracted. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the position of the parts when the arms are projected. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 4- 1, Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, and in the present exemplification of this invention, the numeral 10 designates the shell or casing of the projectile which may be of any desired size or configuration, and

Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

PBOJECTILE.

1 152 668 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 14, 1915. Serial No. 2,111.

To all whom it may concern is provided with a core or 'filling 11, the latter being preferably provided with a longitudinal passage 12 therethrough. This core 11 preferably terminates adjacent the forward end of the casing and terminates short of the rear end of the casing to form a space 13 therebetween and the end 14 of the projectile. Movable in this space 13 is an element 15 in the nature of a plunger which is connected by means of a series of rods or bars '16 with the arms or cutting elements 18 arranged at the forward end of the casing. These arms or elements 18 are pivotally connected as at 19 with a portion of the casing and the .bars or rods 16 are pivotally connected as at 20 with the arms or elements, so that when the element 15, is moved in the space 13 forwardly, the arms or elements 18 will be moved about their pivots 19 into the position shown in Fig. 2, and when moved in the opposite direction will retract the arms or elements into the position shown in Fig. 1.

The core 11 is provided with chambers 21 opening through the end thereof and any number of these chambers may be provided within each of which is arranged a coil spring 22 that operates upon the head 23 of a bar or plunger 24, the latter being connected with the element 15. These bars or plungers 24 are of such a length and the springs 22 are so disposed that they will normally act upon the heads 23 of the bars 24 to move the element 15 and the arms 18 into the position shown in Fig. 1 to retain them in such position so that the arms or elements 18 will not obstruct the flight of the projectile duringa portion of the travel of the projectile.

In order to maintain the arms or elements 18 in the position shown in Fig. 2, any suitable means may be provided, but there is shown a catch 25 preferably connected with the core 11 and with which catch a dog 26 cooperates, that is connected with the element 15.

The end 14 of the projectile is provided with a chamber 27, for holding an explosive charge such as powder or the like, and a fuse 28 is also provided which projects beyond the end of the projectile and by means of which fuse the charge is exploded. The projectile may also have connected with it, a portion 29 constructed of any expansible material, such as lead or the like that is in cross section of the shape shown m adapted to expand to fill the gun chamber and this portion 29 may be connected to the projectile in any desired or suitable manner. In order to permit the gases from" the explosion to escape from the chamber 13, apertures or openings may be prov1ded in the wall of the chamber for this purpose. Obviously any number of arms or elements l8 may be provided and they are prefr'erii bly 1g. 4:,the active edge of the elements being redicedor tapered "as at 31 to form cutting e es. v i use, the projectile being arranged as shown in Fig. 1, the element 15 will be held in that position by the springs 22.

When the pro ectile is dischargedfrom the gun, the fuse 28 is ignited and this fuse may be any desired length, according-to the 7 distance that the projectile has to travel. During the flighto the projectile, as it approaches the obstruction or entanglement,

the fuse 28 will ignite the charge 32 to'cause an explosion thereof, and this explosion will force the element 15 forwardly with respect to the projectile to rock the arms or elements 18 about their pivots into the position shown in Fig. 2. The parts will be maintained in this position by the catch elements 25, 26, so that when the projectile strikes the obstruction or entanglement, the arms or elements will cut their way through the same.

Obviously many changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a projectile, the combination of a shell, one or more cutter elements connected therewith and projectable with respect there- 7 to, a movable element within the shell, operatively connected with the cutter elements for projecting and retracting the latter, means tending normally to move the second recited element in one direction to retract the cutter elements and for holding them retracted, and means movable with the shell and operating automatically to project the cutter elements with respect to the shell, and

against the stress of the first recited means.-

' 2. In a projectile, the combination of a shell, one. or more cutter elements connected therewith and projectable with respect thereto, a movable element within the shell operatively connected with the cutter elements for projecting and retracting the latter, means tending normally to move the meaeee recited element in one direction to retract the cutter elements and for holding them retracted, and explosive means'movable with the shell and operating automatically to project the cutter elements with res ect to the shell and against the stress of t e first recited means.

4. In a projectile, the combination of a shell, one or more cutter elements connected therewith and proj ectable with respect thereto, a movable element within the shell operatively connected with the cutter elements for projecting and retracting the latter, means tending normally to move the second recited element in one direction to retract the cutter elements and for holding them retracted, means movable with the shell and operating automatically to project the cutter elements with respect to the shell, and against the stress of the first recited means, and means for holding the cutter elements projected. 1

5. In a projectile, the combination of a shell, one or more cutter elements connected therewith and projectable with respect there to, a movable element within the shell operatively connected with the cutter elements for projecting and retracting the latter, means tending normally to move thesecond recited element in one direction to retract the cutter elements and for holding them retracted, means movable with the shell and operating automatically to project the cutter elements .with respect to the shell, and against the stress of the first recited means and positive means for maintaining the cutter elements projected.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. SULLIVAN. Witnesses: v IoNE RANDALL, Bnssm Bnmnr. 

